The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-26
MORE OF THE "HIaHER LAW"
The Louisinn~ Colorcd People Adept an
Idea OF Their White nrethren.


New ORLEANS, June 9.-Henry jackson,
colored, who was indicted for the murder OF
another colored man named Joseph Flood In
1888, in East Carroll parish, and who has been
on trial ever since has finally been acquitted.
His acquttal marks the adoption Of o new idea
by the colored people OF the State, an idea bor-
rowod from the whites-that, under the higher
law" the husband OF woman has the right to
kill her seducer.
This higher law has always been recognized
by the white people OF LoAisiana and 1t has
received several indications lately-a very
strong one In the case OF DIR. Ford, who slew
kirkpatrick. Among the plantation negroes.
however, where the very worst ideas OF mar
riage and morality prevail, no such idea has
previously been entertained. largo major
ity OF these plantation darkies are not legally
married. II man tires Of q woman he casts
her of and takes another, and the plantation
minister officiates at the second as at the first
satisfied with her husband, she :" takes up"
sents this. He may however, grow angry over YER
It, when the chances are that he will beat or
Kill his desertinE spouse for which he e
tho wife Is seldom attacked. nor Is tho higher
law appealed to by the outraged husband.
IN & mSs ae SSsp n the s
parish in tho State. where the negroes are
ass a w Of sS s a h
A better looking man. Henry Flood. came
along and while Jackson was away working in
with him. Jackson promptly pursued and
killed him. He made NO attempt to escape. and
December, 1883, his case came before a jury.
The jury. as is always the case in East Carroll.
WAS almost entirely colored, and viewed the
sons lawyer talked of his clients despoied
hearthstone, his wrecked domestic happiness;
1t had no effect whatever. upon the colored
why Jackson did not let the unfaithful w!ifo co.
and take another to himself, without making a
against the asenGer of family honor.
Court. which remanded # for a new trial on
some minor I;o question , 81 evidence .k on this
ana That many Of them were disposed to oew
the whites in this idea Of a higher law, as we'll
were made to the. jury, and it had its effect on
enough OF them to cause a mistrial. third
trial ooTed this 5 month before Jury eleven
ummphant ac1uittal OF Jackson.
Thcre was no lack Of evidence against Jack.
Flood, but the verdict was acknowledged to be
based on The ,, proposition that the husband has
sfe Th jury Hr hs 5 ssGafef IN hs
theory. and that it was applicable as we'll to
negroes as to whites.
negro parish OF the State. that the husband
should not be punished for killing the seducer,
may be considered as the enunciation of an
entirely new doctrine among tho Louisiana
negroes-a doctrine that promises to play u
most important part In the future history and
development of the race.
The whites do not know whether to accept
this imitation promising good or evil results.
1t is said on the one hand that II the other
negroes take to following Jacksons example,
trusting to escape the legal penalties 1t will
result in wholesale murder throughout the
to elevate the race. and that when 1t becomes
n well-established principle. that q negro who
fools around II friends wife, and seluces her
Of his life, there will 10 fewer scductions to
complain Of. One thing is generally believed
by the whites, namely that tho marital tie
needs much strengthening among the plnntl-
ton hands, and that any. system which does
away with the doctrine of free love and affinity
which prevails SO largely among them is to be
welcomed